"I know many will find Equinor's decision not to proceed with this oil exploration project in the Great Australian Bight extremely disappointing, and it is particularly hard for South Australia," Mr Pitt said.

Hooley dooley this is wonderful. Reminders:•The Bight is home to more unique species than the Great Barrier Reef•Oil spills from drilling could have reached from WA to NSW•Equinor has a deplorable safety record

"It's been a while coming, but the right decision is the right decision and we have no doubt that the hundreds of thousands of people that have supported the campaign to Fight for the Bight will be both delighted and relieved to hear this news," Wilderness Society South Australian director Peter Owen said.

"It's clear that drilling the Bight is not a sensible proposition. Opening up a new high-risk frontier oil field when we are hurtling towards catastrophic climate change is madness," he said.

Surfers take part in a National Day of Action against Norwegian oil giant Equinor.

AAP

"We are now calling on the Australian government to listen to the people and permanently protect the unique waters of the Great Australian Bight from drilling for good."

Last year, the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority gave the green light to the company's plan to drill one exploration well about 400 kilometres off the South Australian coast.

BP, Chevron and Karoon Gas have all withdrawn from the Bight but Santos, Murphy Oil and Bight Petroleum still have plans to drill there.